TOKYO—Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday made a forceful pitch for lifting restrictions on Japan's military, brushing aside criticism that he was ramming through the change without thorough debate.

Ruling-coalition officials said Mr. Abe wanted his cabinet to change the interpretation of the nation's pacifist constitution by next week, an ambitious timetable that is causing friction with the coalition's junior partner. The change would permit Japan to exercise the right of "collective self-defense," meaning...